From the Book - Third edition.
Early successes, 1866-1892
Futher British influences and new stirrings, 1892-1902
The emergence of American talent, 1902-1907
Viennese opera and the American retreat, 1907-1914
The birth of the modern musical, 1921-1924
The Cinderella era, 1921-1924
The golden age of the American musical, 1924-1937
Broadway's response to the Swing era, 1937-1942
The American musical as a conscious art form, 1942-1965
Full circle?; or, Return of the Brits, 1969-1995
Technological spectacles, retrospectives, and revivals, 1995-?
From the Book - Second edition.
2. Act one: early successes
Scene one: Opera Bouffe and native elements, 1866-1878
Scene two: H.M.S. Pinafore and the great transformation, 1878-1892
3. Intermission: further British influences and new stirrings, 1892-1902
4. Act two: the emergence of American talent, 1902-1907
5. Intermission: Viennese operetta and the American retreat, 1907-1914
6. Act three: the birth of the modern musical, 1914-1921
7. Intermission: the Cinderella era, 1921-1924
8. Act four: the golden age of the American musical, 1924-1937
Scene one: songwriters' shows as pure entertainment, 1924-1929
Scene two: depression and "talkies": Broadway's answer, 1929-1937
9. Intermission: Broadway's response to the swing era
10. Act five: the American musical as a conscious art form
Scene one: Americana amid a new seriousness, 1942-1951
Scene two: increasing problems: lowering standards, 1951-1965
11. Intermission: exhaustion, 1965-1969
12. Act six: full circle?; or, return of the Brits
Scene one: startlingly new, delightfully old, 1969-1981
Scene two: a musical trade imbalance, 1981-1990.